UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale) Review

UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)

By Chanda Hahn

Published April 18th, 2012 by Createspace

222 pages

4 stars - Interesting Read!

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her newfound fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairytale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Okay so this book has been free for awhile now in kindle edition on Amazon. I just barely picked it up and read it a couple weeks ago and I couldn't believe that I hadn't ever tried it before! UnEnchanted is what I was looking for at the time, something not to heavy and not to easy. UnEnchanted is an interesting read full of funny, suspenseful and heartbreaking times. The fairy tales Mina is faced with aren't Disney rated but Grimm written instead. The fairy tales are deadly and won't leave Mina alone until she has finished every last one of them.

Mina is cursed by Grimm fairy tales and learns that from now on her life won't be too easy. Her mom has moved her family around many times trying to outrun Mina's  inevitable fate but now that she knows her fate she has decided to stay and fight. Mina goes from thinking she was perfectly normal, aside from her unlucky streak, to finding out that she has to fight some deadly fairy tales in order to save her younger brother. Mina grows throughout this book and even though she doesn't have any fighting skills or super powers she does her best to keep her family safe. She makes a couple new friends along the way but soon finds out that not all can stay. She goes through some tough times but I admire that she sticks it out. 

I really did enjoy UnEnchanted and it didn't take me too long to read. I found that it was entertaining and I liked the whole Grimm fairy tale curse. It wasn't your every day fairy tale or fantasy story and I enjoyed the differences. The characters were easy to like except for a few and the ending left me wanting more. I'd like to read the second book so I can figure out what happens to the characters. Chanda Hahn wrote another series that I liked and that I have reviewed so I was glad that this book didn't disappoint. So if you want something light and entertaining check this book out!

Vanessa

AfterLife Review

AfterLife 

By S.P. Cloward

Published September 13th, 2012

268 pages

4 stars - Very Interesting!

*I got this book for free on Amazon and was asked to review it as well.*

What if This is the Way it Really Happened?

If you think you’ve read every possible “undead” scenario there is, you’re in for a surprise. AfterLife transcends the typical zombie or vampire genre and audience to present a plausible explanation of where such stories come from in an unsettling but believable way. Even those who shy away from this type of science fiction are falling prey to the “what if” question that makes this book so unique – and so compelling. What if the undead live among us but we don’t recognize them? 

At the time of his premature death, Wesley Lohmann not only learns about this unique race of humans, but due to a small genetic marker in his DNA, discovers he is one of them. He is now a Mortui, and must leave behind everyone he knows and loves. Through death Wes learns to live, learns the meaning of love, and learns to put others before himself. Ultimately, dying was the best thing that ever happened to him.

AfterLife is a richly woven tale of the struggle between good and evil, of allegiances, loyalties, and betrayals. The undead are surprisingly human and deeply motivated in their struggle for survival. Readers of all ages have been captured by the compelling story of Wes and AfterLife. Once you start reading you won’t be able to stop. And you’ll never look at a stranger the same way again.

AfterLife is definitely a different take on the living dead. And while it may be different it is also very interesting. Wes Lohmann used to be completely normal and completely alive until one day Wes dies. Instead of dying fully Wes changes into one of the undead or Mortui. And while Wes isn't alive being a Mortui isn't exactly like being a zombie. 

Wes looks normal and alive and fresh. He can speak coherently and he can form coherent thoughts, as can the rest of the Mortui. But Wes can't physically feel, smell or taste anything. Becoming a Mortui really changes the outlook Wes has on life and I liked how he was able to grow and learn. He has to decide if he want's to how he wants to spend this second chance at living, be good or be evil. The AfterLife group is based on good while the Atumra is based on evil and selfish wants. There are so many interesting ideas in this book from the different groups to how the Mortui feed and gain nourishment. The whole concept of being undead in this book was just really interesting and thought provoking. I know it wouldn't have ever come to my mind. Again AfterLife is definitely a different type of "undead" book and it really does give readers a plausible explanation. It makes you wonder if something like this could actually happen. 

The characters are great and some of them you will want to hate. There were times when I wondered if I knew which characters would want to join evil and found out that I was completely wrong. AfterLife is seen through Wes's and a couple other characters perspectives and I enjoyed this as well. There aren't too many books that I have read where the main character is male but it was enjoyable. The ending is great and it leaves you wondering what will happen next. There is a second book so I can't wait to see what's in store for the characters. If you are someone that likes this type of sci-fi and undead concept then this is the book for you. Regardless you should check it out because I did and I was pleased. 

Vanessa

Freebie!! AfterLife by S.P. Cloward

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that this book in Kindle edition is FREE on Amazon until midnight tonight! It sounds pretty interesting and I know I'm going to get my copy! Can't wait to review it! 
So hurry up and grab yours now!! Here is a link and the synopsis is below -
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009AINAG4

AfterLife
By S.P. Cloward
Published September 11, 2012
268 pages

Prior to recorded history, a small genetic mutation occurred that created this race now found among every civilization in every corner of the globe. Unrecognizable to the rest of mankind but dependent upon them for survival, this race is known as Mortui; those whose spirits do not sever from their bodies when they die. They are not zombies, but they are the source of all living dead legends.

“You living beings have an instinctual knowledge of our existence. Why do you think people are afraid to look into the eyes of strangers, or avoid the gazes of those they pass? It comes from an intuitive need to protect yourselves from us."

At the time of his premature death, Wesley Lohmann discovers he belongs to this select group. “You aren’t a zombie. Zombies are bodies without a soul, and such a thing can’t really exist. Your soul still resides in your body; it’s just not a living body as you think of one.” 

Wes joins in the impending conflict between two rival organizations; AfterLife, determined to co-exist symbiotically with humans, and The Atumra, a Mortui organization headed by Seth that focuses on the domination and subjection of the living. 

"Seth remained in his seat, pleased by his successful hunt and reveling in the physical sensations he always felt when he was finished. His victim sat lifeless on the other side of the train and Seth knew it could be hours before anyone realized she was dead. He had looked into her soul and seen her hopes for a rich and full life, yet he had squashed her pathetic dreams and life without a second thought. The image of her body riding the train for hours caused him to smile. He had fed on her in public and not a single person in that car knew he had done it. He truly was the superior species – a Mortui, and thus, a god."

As Wes struggles with new and past relationships and tries to find meaning for his continued existence, he discovers within himself the ability and heart to tip the balance in favor of those who want to deal harmoniously with mankind.

Dance the Moon Down Review

Dance the Moon Down
By R.L. Bartram
Published November 4th, 2011 by Authors Online
300 pages

4 stars-Good Read!!

*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*

In 1910, no one believed there would ever be a war with Germany. Safe in her affluent middle-class life, the rumours held no significance for Victoria either. It was her father's decision to enroll her at university that began to change all that. There she befriendes the rebellious and outspoken Beryl Whittaker, an emergent suffragette, but it is her love for Gerald Avery, a talented young poet from a neighbouring university that sets the seal on her future. After a clandestine romance, they marry in January 1914, but with the outbreak of the First World War, Gerald volunteeres but within months has gone missing in France. Convinced that he is still alive, Victoria's initial attempts to discover what has become of him, implicate her in a murderous assault on Lord Kitchener resulting in her being interrogated as a spy, and later tempted to adultery. Now virtually destitute, Victoria is reduced to finding work as a common labourer on a run down farm, where she discovers a world of unimaginable ignorance and poverty. It is only her conviction that Gerald will some day return that sustaines her through the dark days of hardship and privation as her life becomes a battle of faith against adversity.

Ok so I know that I don't usually review books like Dance the Moon Down but when I see a book that sounds interesting I give it a chance. Dance the Moon Down was a great read and it was interesting and for someone like me that means a lot. I don't usually like to read historic fiction books but like I've said, if it sounds interesting I'll give it a try. So if any of you feel the same way as me then you should give Dance the Moon Down a try as well. 

Reading this book I was able to learn more about the First World War but I got to learn about it from a women character's perspective. Reading the story through Victoria's eyes was great and interesting and thought provoking as well. Victoria was well educated, kind, loyal and hardworking. Victoria meets and marries Gerald but they aren't married long when the war starts and Gerald is leaving her to go fight. It's difficult for her but she at least has his letters to get her by until one day the letters stop coming. This leaves Victoria no choice but to do whatever she can to make sure she finds her husband because she knows that he isn't dead. As the years go on and the war gets worse Victoria has to go through more trials. She has to find work and ends up working at a run down farm and even though it's far from what she is used to Victoria learns many great lessons. Victoria was a strong woman and she was young having to go through all those trials. During the middle of the book was when I really began feeling for her and hoping that she'd have her happy ending. 

Dance the Moon Down really put in perspective what women had to go through during the First World War and even just that time period, the 1910's and on. Women were expected to act a certain way and believe a certain way. They were put through a lot having to worry about their families during this time. So anyways I found this book to be nothing like what I was expecting, it was interesting and I felt for Victoria and the women who really went through this. So check it out yourself!

Vanessa